Krebs cycle analogy

[jamie_1002]

hi everyone.

i was wondering if anyone could think of an analogy to explain the purpose of Krebs cycle to someon who has no background in biology. ALso i have to say why i thin its useful for this purpose.

thank you in advance.

[MrMistery]

Think of it like a nuclear power plant opposed to a nuclear bomb(the nuclear plant is Krebs cycle). Though they release the same amount of energy, the energy in the plant can be used by humans because it is released in small doses-same thing with the Krebs cycle: the energy is released gradually and it is changed into chemical energy(ATP).
If you were oxidase(is that a verb?!) instantly then you will get the same result as in the nuke: the cell would release an imense amount of heat, determining lisys.
Home this helps
PS: I'll be absent for 2 weeks. I'll miss everyone
BYeeeee

[EmmVeePee]

I think of it that the Kreb's cycle is like rolling the toothpaste roll to get that last little bit out.

Glycolysis splits glucose into two molecules of pyruvate. The pyruvate still has extra chemical energy, which is converted with CoEnzymeA, I believe, to Acetyl CoA, which is then used in Kreb's.

Anyway, the point is that you are getting more chemical energy from the left over material of glycolysis. Not only are you getting ATP (Adenine TriPhosphate) which can be used for energy by the cell,, but you are creating accesory molecules. The accessory molecules (NADH and FADH(2)) dump their hydrogen ions at the electron transport chain. The ETC uses the proton motive force (basically the +'s want to attract to the -'s) to create about 34 more ATP.. giving you 36-38 molecules of ATP for 1 molecule of glucose, instead of 2 molecules of ATP from just glycolysis.

This is a pretty basic explaination, if you need it simpler, I can explain it easier.

[dr.pnj]

think of it as a journey
pyruvic acid the traveller
it loses co2 its luggagealong with some cash i.e hydrogen which converts nad to nadh2
and becomes a beggar with nothing i.e acetyl
acetyl get coenzyme a after begging
so it becomes acetyl coA
it spends this ezyme to continue its journey and becomes
a moneyless traveller or citric acid
as he travels different places he changes himself according to what is left with him
it becomes the following in order
cis acotinic acid
iso citric acid
it spends some extra money to look good i.e hydrogen andbecomes oxalosuccinic acid
at one station he is again robbed of his luggage i.e co2 and again becomes poor
a-ketoglutaric acid
he begs and gets some coenzA and spends some hyd on food
it again continues its journey by spending coA
he buys a ticket gdp and sells it to another person(gdp+ip) and earns 1atp which it spend sto become succinic acid
it spends more money to become a handsome fumeric acid and earns 2 atp by modelling
in th ecourse of its journey he finds treasure of water and becomes rich mallic acid he spend s more money and makes a profit of3atp by starting abusiness to become the richest oxallo acetic acid

[EmmVeePee]

We're so lame =)

[b_d_41501]

Very clever dr. pnj!!

[LeQian]

It's a good idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cross Country Runner]

I would like to think that the Krebs Cycle is the third shift at a factory.

The Krebs Cycle can take place in the absence of light(like the third shift hours)

Also only a little amount of ATP is produced(2 to be exact) unlike the Light-dependent phase which produces tons of ATP (I think it's 36) Which relates to the third shift at a factory were little work is done and most the workers are sleeping!

[MrMistery]

I am afraid you are confusing things, Cross Country Runner. The Krebs cycle, or citric acid cycle is NOT dependent on light. It requires oxygen to take place, not light. Actually, light has nothing to do with this process

If you want to be exact, the Krebs cycle does not require oxygen and does not produce 38 molecules of atp: it only produces 2 molecules. The most atp is produced in the next phase, which is oxygen-dependent: oxidative fosforilation

[cytochromeP]

think of it as a journey
pyruvic acid the traveller
...
...
... the richest oxallo acetic acid

The ability of the Human Brain to grasp complicated concepts and remember an Abstract Idea - an idea which will be applied to seemingly unrelated subjects (Kreb's cycle => tourists, in this case) continues to amaze me .

Way to go doc !

Nice analogy btw.

[victor]

Hm, maybe I can start it from the product of glycolysis which is piuvic acid. This kind of acid will lose it's Carbon Dioxyde and formed with Coenzyme A, and we can call it Acetyl Coenzyme A. This product will enter the Krebs cycle and releasing 6 NADH (Nicotynamide Adenine Dinucleotide H) and 2 FADH (Flavin Adenin Dinucleotide H). All of these NADH and FADH will enter the next step energy processing which is called electron transfer.